Canadians flock to Sabres game despite political tensions

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Sabres hosted their neighbors to the north, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Tuesday in a game that always brings in a ton of Canadian fans to the Queen City.

Despite the tensions between the two countries recently, many people crossed the border for the game.

The matchup was important for Buffalo, not in regards to the Sabres’ standing points, but because of the team on the opposite side of the ice: a Canadian squad that brings in fans who tell us, despite limiting trips to the United States, they put aside political differences for hockey.

“Politicians belong in the penalty box,” said St. Catherine native Carm LaVigna.

Tons of Maple Leafs jerseys as far as the eye could see flocked into KeyBank Center for Tuesday’s game.

“We’re our neighbors for hundreds of years, like we’re neighbors, guys, we know a lot of Americans and they are wonderful,” LaVigna said.

“I mean who doesn’t have family living on both sides of the border?” said St. Catherine native Natasa Cornfield. “And honestly, I just hope that everything works out because we need each other.”

Last month, Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said typically, 35% to 45% of tourists in the area come from Canada and that cross-border numbers are down 14% compared to this time last year.

“Truth be told, yeah, we are not coming down to the States as much as we were a couple of months ago,” said Chad Belcher, a Fort Erie, ON, native.

While that may be the case across the board, Canadian fans said hockey games are different.

“Hockey will always transcend that,” Belcher said. “Absolutely.”

“It’s a shame to see what’s going on, but you know what? In the end, listen, we’re all together in the end, we all gotta work it out,” said Harvey Hail, a Grimsby native.

For The Draft Room bar general manager Jason Sunshine, the influx of Canadians is temporary. The Sabres only have one game left this season against an American team, so everything helps.

“With Canadian tourists coming over, it definitely helps our business with the price that they’re paying right now for tickets in Toronto, for instance,” Sunshine said. “We’re a lot less expensive.”

Sunshine said with Bandits games and other events, he hasn’t seen a dip in customers or reservations.

“We’re still getting a great influx of the Canadians coming over the border,” Sunshine said. “It is a lot more affordable here in Buffalo than it is anywhere else, such as Toronto and Montreal, to go see a game.”